This would be a example of me pulling a number out of memory and mixing up my units. I beleive someone else posted the correct unit, my apologies.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter VanDerWal" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2002 11:54 AM Subject: Re: Cross country charging challenge. > > > > > >>Aha... now here's a fun idea. A normal-sized car can't carry enough > >>solar panels to power it. But how big a trailer can a normal-sized car > >>handle? Could it tow a semi-sized but very light flatbed trailer covered > >>with solar cells -- enough to power the car? > >> > > > >This is a fun thought exercise. > > > >Let's take QM. At 35 mph, she draws about 4kW. But the trailer's going to > >add some drag, so let's make that 5kW. On second thought, after my Woodburn > >experience, let's make it 6. > > > >You can get [being optimistic here] 50W per sq foot of panel. So 6kw / 50 = > >120 sq ft. Well, that doesn't sound so bad. That's only 10' * 12'! > > > > Huh? Where are you finding solar panels that can produce 50W per sq > foot, or even close to that? I want some. > > The best I've found has been 11-12 W per sq foot. >
